"If you had done so you would probably have slept in the rooms we give to our American guests in the new part of the house."
"How old is that?" queried the journalist.
"About eight hundred years," replied Cecil, "and the walls are four feet thick."
"I know," said the reporter, "It's appalling. That sort of thing always upsets me. It seems so out of keeping with the Daily Leader."
"Look here, Marchmont, why have you come to Blanford?" demanded Banborough, abruptly changing the conversation.
"To have the joy of your society," returned the journalist.
"If that were really the case I'd be delighted to see you," said the Englishman. "But you're on the track of these unfortunate people who are my guests; and if you make things disagreeable for them I shan't have the slightest compunction in forbidding you the house."
The American, apparently ignoring the other's frankness, remarked:
"So you admit they're conspirators?"
"I admit nothing of the kind. They're perfectly innocent of the charge you bring against them, and you've been making an awful ass of yourself, if you only knew it."